Cloud key directory for federating data exchanges

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are directed to facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory and to providing attribute-based data access to identified users. In an embodiment, a computer system instantiates an anonymous directory that stores data in various client-specific directories for different clients. The anonymous directory is configured to provide data access according to access controls defined and managed by the client. The computer system receives a data request from a user that identifies the user and specifies a portion of data that is to be returned to the user. The computer system determines which of the client&#39;s data is to be returned to the user based on the client&#39;s specified access controls. The access controls grant access to specified data in some of the client-specific directories, based on the user&#39;s identity. The computer system then provides the determined data to the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/162,950, filed Jun. 17, 2011, and entitled, “CLOUD KEY ESCROW SYSTEM,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Computers have become highly integrated in the workforce, in the home, in mobile devices, and many other places. Computers can process massive amounts of information quickly and efficiently. Software applications designed to run on computer systems allow users to perform a wide variety of functions including business applications, schoolwork, entertainment and more. Software applications are often designed to perform specific tasks, such as word processor applications for drafting documents, or email programs for sending, receiving and organizing email.

In some cases, software applications may be designed to interact with other software applications or other computer systems. For example, an application may be designed to store files on a network server. Those files may be stored in one or more directories on the network server. As data storage needs increase, the corresponding directories grow increasingly larger, and may include information that is out-of-date, or is otherwise incorrect. Moreover, customers wishing to share data stored on these directories may only be able to share the data in an all-or-nothing fashion, such that their data is available to all users or to no users.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein are directed to facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory and to providing attribute-based data access to identified users. In one embodiment, a computer system instantiates an anonymous directory that stores data in various client-specific directories for different clients. The anonymous directory is configured to provide data access according to access controls defined and managed by the client. The computer system receives a data request from a user that identifies the user and specifies a portion of data that is to be returned to the user. The computer system determines which of the client's data is to be returned to the user based on the client's specified access controls. The access controls grant access to specified data in some of the client-specific directories, based on the user's identity. The computer system then provides the determined data to the user.

In another embodiment, a computer system receives encrypted data from a client that is to be stored in a client-specific directory. The data is encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption. As such, the client can specify access rights to the encrypted data by allowing identified users to access data with certain specified attributes. The computer system receives a data request from a user, where the data request includes the user's identity and specifies various data attributes. Any data that includes those attributes is to be returned to the user. The computer system determines which portions of data have attributes that match the requested attributes specified by the user. This data is then identified as being allowable to release to the identified user. The computer system then sends to the user those portions of data whose attributes match the requested attributes specified by the user.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of embodiments of the present invention will be rendered by reference to the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer architecture in which embodiments of the present invention may operate including facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for providing attribute-based data access to identified users.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer architecture in which attribute-based data access is provided to identified users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are directed to facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory and to providing attribute-based data access to identified users. In one embodiment, a computer system instantiates an anonymous directory that stores data in various client-specific directories for different clients. The anonymous directory is configured to provide data access according to access controls defined and managed by the client. The computer system receives a data request from a user that identifies the user and specifies a portion of data that is to be returned to the user. The computer system determines which of the client's data is to be returned to the user based on the client's specified access controls. The access controls grant access to specified data in some of the client-specific directories, based on the user's identity. The computer system then provides the determined data to the user.

In another embodiment, a computer system receives encrypted data from a client that is to be stored in a client-specific directory. The data is encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption. As such, the client can specify access rights to the encrypted data by allowing identified users to access data with certain specified attributes. The computer system receives a data request from a user, where the data request includes the user's identity and specifies various data attributes. Any data that includes those attributes is to be returned to the user. The computer system determines which portions of data have attributes that match the requested attributes specified by the user. This data is then identified as being allowable to release to the identified user. The computer system then sends to the user those portions of data whose attributes match the requested attributes specified by the user.

The following discussion now refers to a number of methods and method acts that may be performed. It should be noted, that although the method acts may be discussed in a certain order or illustrated in a flow chart as occurring in a particular order, no particular ordering is necessarily required unless specifically stated, or required because an act is dependent on another act being completed prior to the act being performed.

Embodiments of the present invention may comprise or utilize a special purpose or general-purpose computer including computer hardware, such as, for example, one or more processors and system memory, as discussed in greater detail below. Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include physical and other computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or data structures. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer system. Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions in the form of data are computer storage media. Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions are transmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, embodiments of the invention can comprise at least two distinctly different kinds of computer-readable media: computer storage media and transmission media.

Computer storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives (SSDs) that are based on RAM, Flash memory, phase-change memory (PCM), or other types of memory, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

A “network” is defined as one or more data links and/or data switches that enable the transport of electronic data between computer systems and/or modules and/or other electronic devices. When information is transferred or provided over a network (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a transmission medium. Transmissions media can include a network which can be used to carry data or desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or in the form of data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Further, upon reaching various computer system components, program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures can be transferred automatically from transmission media to computer storage media (or vice versa). For example, computer-executable instructions or data structures received over a network or data link can be buffered in RAM within a network interface module (e.g., a network interface card or “NIC”), and then eventually transferred to computer system RAM and/or to less volatile computer storage media at a computer system. Thus, it should be understood that computer storage media can be included in computer system components that also (or even primarily) utilize transmission media.

Computer-executable (or computer-interpretable) instructions comprise, for example, instructions which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts described above. Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computer systems that are linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data links) through a network, each perform tasks (e.g. cloud computing, cloud services and the like). In a distributed system environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer architecture 100 in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. Computer architecture 100 includes computer system 110. Computer system 110 may be any type of local or distributed computer system, including a vast system of interconnected computer systems commonly referred to as “the cloud”. Computer system 110 may include different modules and systems that are designed to perform specific functions. For instance, the anonymous directory 115 may be used to store users' information. The anonymous directory may include many different client-specific directories 116 that correspond to each client. Thus, for example, each of clients 105 may have their own client-specific directory that stores each client's data 106.

In some cases, the client may want to encrypt their data, so that their data is protected from viewing by other parties. This encrypted data may be stored in the clients' client-specific directories 116. The client may, however, in some circumstances, want to make portions of their data (encrypted or otherwise) available to other users. In such cases, the data may be encrypted using multi-authority, attribute-based encryption. This type of encryption allows the encrypted data to be stored with certain attributes 107 associated therewith. The data may then be accessed using those attributes, along with the requesting user's confirmed identity. This process will be explained in greater detail below with regard to methods 200 and 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

In view of the systems and architectures described above, methodologies that may be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter will be better appreciated with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 and 3. For purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks. However, it should be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described hereinafter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method 200 for facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory. The method 200 will now be described with frequent reference to the components and data of environment 100.

Method 200 includes an act of instantiating an anonymous directory that stores data in one or more client-specific directories for a plurality of different clients, wherein the anonymous directory is further configured to provide data access according to access controls defined and managed by the client (act 210). For example, computer system 110 may instantiate and manage anonymous directory 115. The anonymous directory stores client data 106 in client-specific directories 116 for multiple different clients 105. The client's data is managed according to access controls defined and managed by the client. Accordingly, using the client-specific access controls 117, each client can manage how their data is stored and who is allowed to access their data.

Each client's data may be encrypted before being stored in the anonymous directory. The data may be encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption. Such encryption associates attributes 107 with the encrypted data. In some cases, the clients' data may be accessed by users searching for data with these attributes. The client may specify in their access controls that certain users (e.g. 130) may access data with certain attributes. Using multi-authority attribute-based encryption ensures that no single party that can hand out all of the keys to look at the encrypted data. In some cases, each client (e.g. each company) may be an authority. Each client can selectively expose data (e.g. product pricing or details) based on a runtime decision of who the buyer is. Multi-authority attribute-based encryption allows clients to encrypt their data and put their (potentially) sensitive business data in their directory in the computer system (e.g. in the cloud). The data may be encrypted before it is sent up to the cloud, so that the cloud can take ownership of encrypted data. Then off-cloud, the client maintains fine-grained control over the data by providing keys or otherwise allowing third parties to access the data.

For instance, one of clients 105 may be a merchant selling widgets. User 130 may be a buyer that wants to buy widgets. The user may not know about the client, but may search for data about widgets. The user may send data request 131 to the computer system, along with the user's ID (identifying the user as a buyer) and attributes the user is searching for (in this case, widgets). The anonymous directory may then, according to the client's access control policy, allow the user to access those portions of client data that have to do with the widget. Accordingly, the client's data may be safely stored, while still allowing access to interested third parties, according to the client's self-defined access control policies.

The anonymous directory may thus allow data owners to specify which data is presented in a search result. Those search results may be user-specific, such that each user, based on their ID, may receive different search results, even when searching for the same terms or attributes 133. Additionally or alternatively, the anonymous directory may allow data owners to specify which data is presented in a search result for different user types. Thus, as above, the search results may be user-type-specific, such that each user type, as indicated in their user ID 132, may receive different search results, even when searching for the same terms or attributes.

In some embodiments, the anonymous directory allows data owners to dynamically change which data is presented in a given search result. Thus, if a data owner (client 105) wanted to allow more or fewer users or user types to access a certain portion of data, the data owner could update their access controls and make the appropriate changes. In some cases, the data owner may convert the data request 131 received from the user based on the user's identity. The request may be converted into a form that uniquely identifies the user and the requested data and/or attributes. The converted request may be used to provide that user with a specified set of data, as indicated by the client in their access controls.

When the data owner uploads their data, the data may be encrypted or unencrypted. As such, any encrypted data may remain invisible to the anonymous directory. The anonymous directory then becomes an intermediary and transmits the client's encrypted data without seeing what it is. In other cases, the data may be unencrypted, and the anonymous directory may be able to see what it is. In either case, the data may be made available to other users, and may appear in other users' searches according to the user's access controls.

Method 200 includes an act of receiving a data request from a user that identifies the user and specifies a portion of data that is to be returned to the user (act 220). For example, computer system 110 may receive data request 131 from user 130. The data request includes user ID 132 and one or more attributes 133 of data that is to be returned to the user. For instance, the user may request a registered salesperson at a jewelry company in Antwerp, Belgium. The request may include these attributes, including “registered”, “salesperson”, “jewelry company” and “Antwerp, Belgium”. The anonymous directory may search to see whether any clients have uploaded data with attributes that match the above-requested attributes. If such a client has uploaded information and has granted access to such using their access controls, that information is sent to the user (e.g. data 126). If the client's data was encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption, the client will have specified access rights to the encrypted data, and will allow identified users to access data that has those specified attributes.

The anonymous directory may also allow discovery of clients' data based on a threshold number of attributes being requested in the user's request. Accordingly, in the above example, if the user had included five attributes in his or her request, and the client had specified in the access controls that the data was to be released if at least three of the attributes were requested, then the threshold would be met and the data would be released. The determining module 120 may determine which of the client's data is to be returned to the user based on the client's specified access controls (act 230). The access controls are customizable and dynamically changeable. The access controls grant access to specified data in one or more client-specific directories, based on the user's identity. The user may be authenticated to verify his or her identity. The anonymous directory may then perform the search using the user's identity and specified data attributes. In some cases, the client may send to the user a set of attributes that the user can search for regarding the client's data. After finding the appropriate data, the data providing module 125 may provide the requested data 126 to the user (act 240).

Turning now to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 for providing attribute-based data access to identified users. The method 300 will now be described with frequent reference to the components and data of environments 100 and 400 of FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively.

Method 300 includes an act of receiving encrypted data from a client that is to be stored in a client-specific directory, the data being encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption, such that the client specifies access rights to the encrypted data by allowing identified users to access data with certain specified attributes (act 310). For example, computer system 410 may receive data 406 from client 405 that is to be stored in a client-specific directory 116 in anonymous directory 415.

The data may have been encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption which allows the client to specify access rights 117 for the data. The access rights allow identified users (e.g. 430) to access certain types of data that have certain attributes. These attributes may be applied to each portion of data stored in the client-specific directory by the client him- or herself. The attributes applied by the client are user-specific. As such, identified users receive different data based on their identity. If, for example, a user is querying the directory for data of another party, the user can only look at that data selectively based on the attributes that the owner is willing to provide to the recipient.

Method 300 includes an act of receiving a data request from a user, wherein the data request includes the user's identity and specifies one or more data attributes, wherein data that includes those attributes is to be returned to the user (act 320). For example, computer system 410 may receive data request 431 from user 430. The data request may include the user's ID 132 and various specified attributes 133. The attributes indicate data or are associated with data which the user would like to retrieve.

In some embodiments, the user's query may be sent to multiple different authorities requesting specific attributes. Each of the authorities may receive the query and respond with the appropriate attribute(s). The computer system may then receive these attributes from the authorities and allow the user access to the data corresponding to the attributes returned by the authorities. Thus, by using multi-authority attribute-based encryption, the user can rely on other authorities to provide attributes and/or data to respond to the user's request. The authorities do not have to be online at the time of the request. The authorities may reply asynchronously, upon confirming the user's ID. In cases where the attributes are not returned by the authorities, the user is prevented from accessing the data that corresponds to those attributes.

Method 300 includes an act of determining which portions of data have attributes that match the requested attributes specified by the user and are identified as being allowable to release to the identified user (act 330). For example, determining module 120 may determine which portions of data have attributes 107 that match the requested attributes 133 specified by the user 130 and have been indicated by the client (in access controls 117) as being ok to release to the identified user. In some cases, these attributes may be verified by a trusted third party 425. Thus, the attribute verification module 420 may send request 421 to one or more of the trusted third parties for verification. The trusted third parties may reply with verification 426 indicating that the attribute is or is not verified. In one example, for instance, the attribute may be “Certified Notary Public”. A trusted third party may vouch for the Notary, indicating that they are legitimate. Those portions of data whose attributes match the requested attributes specified by the user may then be sent to the user (act 340).

Accordingly, methods, systems and computer program products are provided which facilitate data transfer between data owners and users using an anonymous directory. Moreover, methods, systems and computer program products are provided which provide attribute-based data access to identified users. As such, the data owner has fine-grained control over what is being seen and who is seeing it.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

We claim:
 1. At a computer system including at least one processor and a memory, in a computer networking environment including a plurality of computing systems, a computer-implemented method for facilitating data transfer using an anonymous directory, the method comprising: an act of instantiating an anonymous directory that stores data in one or more client-specific directories for a plurality of different clients, the anonymous directory being configured to provide access to the stored data according to access controls defined by and managed by each client, the stored data including a particular portion of data that is associated with a particular client, the particular portion of data being encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption that associates the particular portion of data with one or more specified data attributes, the particular portion of data being decryptable based on an identified user requesting data associated with the one or more specified data attributes; an act of receiving a data request from a user that identifies the user and that specifies data attributes describing data that is to be found in the stored data in the anonymous directory, the data attributes including one or more of the one or more specified data attributes; in response to receiving the data request, an act of determining that the particular portion of data is to be returned to the user based on an identified user requesting data having the one or more specified data attributes; and an act of providing the particular portion of data to the user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anonymous directory allows discovery of the particular clients' data based on a threshold number of attributes being requested in the user's request.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the anonymous directory allows data owners to specify which data is presented in a search result for each of a plurality of different users.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anonymous directory allows data owners to specify which data is presented in a search result for each of a plurality of different user types.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anonymous directory allows data owners to dynamically change which data is presented in a given search result.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data owner converts the query received from the user based on the user's identity, to provide that user with a specified set of data.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is authenticated to verify the user's identity.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the particular client's data is made visible to the anonymous directory.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the particular client's data remains invisible to the anonymous directory.
 10. A computer program product for implementing a method for providing attribute-based data access to identified users, the computer program product comprising one or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method comprising: an act of receiving encrypted data from a client, the encrypted data to be stored in a client-specific directory, the data having been encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption that associates one or more portions of the encrypted data with one or more data attributes, such that the client specifies access rights to the encrypted data by allowing identified users to access data when the identified users search for the data using the one or more data attributes; an act of receiving a data request from a user, wherein the data request includes the user's identity and specifies the one or more data attributes, wherein data that includes those attributes is to be returned to the user; an act of determining which portions of the encrypted data have data attributes that match the requested one or more data attributes specified by the user and are identified as being allowable to release to the identified user; and an act of sending to the user the one or more portions of the encrypted data whose one or more associated attributes match the requested one or more attributes specified by the user.
 11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the client applies one or more attributes to each portion of data stored in the client-specific directory.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the attributes applied by the client are user-specific, such that identified users receive different data based on their identity.
 13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein at least one of the attributes is verified by an authority, the authority comprising a trusted third party.
 14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the user's query is sent to a plurality of different authorities requesting specific attributes.
 15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising: an act of receiving attributes from at least one of the authorities; and an act of allowing the user access to the data corresponding to the attributes returned by the authorities.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising an act of preventing access to the data corresponding to the attributes not returned by the authorities.
 17. A computer system comprising the following: one or more processors; system memory; one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform a method for providing attribute-based data access to identified users, the method comprising the following: an act of receiving encrypted data from a client, the encrypted data to be stored in a client-specific directory, the data having been encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption that associates one or more portions of the encrypted data with one or more data attributes, such that the client specifies access rights to the encrypted data by allowing identified users to access data when the identified users search for the data using the one or more data attributes; an act of receiving a data request from a user, wherein the data request includes the user's identity and specifies the one or more data attributes, wherein data that includes those attributes is to be returned to the user; an act of determining which portions of the encrypted data have data attributes that match the requested one or more data attributes specified by the user and are identified as being allowable to release to the identified user; and an act of sending to the user the one or more portions of the encrypted data whose one or more associated attributes match the requested one or more attributes specified by the user. 